World Cup Budapest, Day 3 Finals: Kaylee McKeown & Qin Haiyang Crowned Overall Champions
Kaylee McKeown and Qin Haiyang were crowned overall women’s and men’s champions as the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup concluded in Budapest.
McKeown ended her historic trip to Hungary with a World Cup record of 2:04.81 in the 200 back, the eighth-fastest time in history and eclipsed only by the Australian, Regan Smith and Missy Franklin.
It earned her the treble triple crown after she swept the backstroke events in Berlin, Athens and Budapest with WRs in the 50 (26.86) and 100 (57.33) in the Hungarian capital.
Qin then dominated the 200 breaststroke – and was inside his WR at the 50 – to lower his World Cup standard to 2:07.32, the Chinese swimmer also doing the treble treble.
The pair each won USD 100,000 for topping their respective competitions.
Siobhan Haughey and Thomas Ceccon took home USD 60,000 for finishing second with Zhang Yufei and Matt Sates in third.
Lani Pallister set a World Cup record in the 800 free, going 8:15.11 to secure the triple crown.
- Link to results
- Link to live stream
- Day 1 prelims
- Day 1 finals
- Kaylee McKeown Breaks 50 Back World Record
- Day 2 prelims
- Day 2 finals
- Kaylee McKeown Blasts 100 Backstroke World Record Of 57.33
- Day 3 prelims
Here’s how day three finals unfolded:
Men’s 400m Individual Medley Fastest Heat
Matt Sates – winner of the 2IM triple crown – came from 0.17 adrift of Balasz Hollo at 300m to take the win in 4:15.68.
The Hungarian came back on the final 50 to stop the clock at 4:16.09 with Brendon Smith of Australia taking third in 4:16.93.
Women’s 800m Freestyle Fastest Heat
Pallister lowered her own World Cup mark of 8:16.82 set in Berlin in the opening leg to take the win by over seven seconds from Erika Fairweather, the New Zealander clocking 8:22.30.
Ajna Kesely was third in 8:28.47.
Women’s 100m Butterfly
Zhang Yufei added the 100 triple crown to the 200 treble, splitting 25.74/30.39 to touch in 56.13.
Louise Hansson came from joint fifth at the turn to move past the field with a 30.50 second length, taking second in 57.61 with Alexandria Perkins third in 58.08.
Men’s 50m Butterfly
Michael Andrew took the title in 23.11 as the first four men home were separated by just 0.05.
Abdelrahman Sameh was second in 23.13, 0.02 ahead of 2017 world champion Ben Proud who locked out Szebasztian Szabo by 0.01 in 23.15 to 23.16.
Women’s 200m Backstroke
It’s been a World Cup tour of history for Kaylee McKeown as she left everyone trailing in her wake.
On Friday the three-time Olympic champion lowered her 50 record to 26.86 before blasting to a new 100 standard of 57.33.
Come Sunday and the Australian sliced 1.21secs off the 2:06.02 meet record she set in Athens last week.
Anastasiya Shkurdai – the neutral athlete from Belarus – was second in 2:09.67 with Kylie Masse third.
Men’s 100m Backstroke
Thomas Ceccon was in clear water as he split 25.72/26.86 to stop the clock in 52.58 to complete the triple crown and add it to his 100 free treble.
The Italian said to World Aquatics on poolside:
“I am really happy to be part of this World Cup.
“Every year is beautiful.”
Apostolos Christou (53.77) edged out Miroslav Knedla by 0.01 (53.78).
Women’s 50m Breaststroke
Benedetta Pilato added the one-length dash to her 100 title in 30.04 ahead of Mona McSharry, who was 0.12 outside her Irish record in 30.41.
Men’s 200m Breaststroke
Treble treble? Sweep of sweeps? It’s hard to overstate Qin’s dominance of the breaststroke events in 2023.
An unprecedented clean sweep at the World Championships, repeated at the World University Games and then at the Asian Games before he joined the World Cup tour.
He led from start to finish from lane six to lower his meet record of 2:07.45 set in
Behind him came Netherlands duo Caspar Corbeau (2:08.63) and Arno Kamminga who marked his 28th birthday with third in 2:08.87.
Qin said:
“I am 100% happy.
“I have now finished my season so so finally i can get some rest.”
Women’s 100m Freestyle
A blistering 24.94 first 50 guided Siobhan Haughey to victory by almost a second in 52.24 as the Hong Kong swimmer added the 100 triple crown to the 200 free.
The Olympic silver medallist said: “I am taking a week off and hopefully enjoying my time off.
“And hopefully I’ll come back fresh.”
Sarah Sjostrom came from fourth at halfway to take second in 53.25 with Marrit Steenbergen third in 53.39, the Campbell sisters – Bronte and Cate – occupying fourth and fifth respectively.
Men’s 200m Freestyle
Maximillian Giuliani came past Danys Rapsys to touch in 1:45.42 and end the Lithuanian’s tripe crown quest.
Rapsys touched in 1:45.72 with Kieran Smith taking third in 1:46.93.
Women’s 200m Individual Medley
Steenbergen returned to the pool to add the 2IM title to her 100 free bronze.
The European silver medallist whittled down Beata Nelson’s substantial lead before coming past her on the free leg for an ultmiately comfortable win in 2:11.33.
Nelson (2:13.71) and Dalma Sebestyen (2:14.42) completed the top three.
Aww, aren’t they a lovely couple!